If you hold a Pakistani passport, you need a Standard Visitor visa before you travel to the UK. The new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) does not apply to you, because Pakistan is on the UK’s visa national list. The visa costs £135, lets you stay for up to 6 months on each visit, and is granted only if you convince the officer that you are a genuine visitor with enough money and good reasons to return.
Visa, not ETA
Since 25 February 2026, the UK has required nationals of around 85 visa-free countries, such as the United States and Canada, to hold an ETA before travelling. That is not your route. The Immigration Rules list Pakistan as a visa national country, so Pakistani citizens must apply for a visit visa in advance.
If you are a dual British and Pakistani citizen, you do not need a visa or an ETA, but you must travel on your British passport or a certificate of entitlement. Airlines check this before you board.
Standard Visitor visa at a glance
| Point | What applies in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Visa fee | £135 for up to 6 months; long-term visas cost more |
| Stay per visit | Up to 6 months |
| Long-term options | Visas valid for 2, 5 or 10 years, still up to 6 months per visit |
| When you can apply | Up to 3 months before you travel |
| Decision time | 3 weeks from your biometrics appointment |
| Faster options | Priority (£500) or super priority (£1,000), where offered |
| Where you apply | Online on GOV.UK, then an appointment at a VFS Global centre in Pakistan |
| What you receive | An eVisa (visa stickers stopped on 1 July 2026) |
What you can and cannot do
You can:
- visit family and friends, or come as a tourist;
- attend business meetings, conferences and negotiations;
- study for up to 6 months at an accredited institution;
- volunteer for up to 30 days with a registered charity;
- receive private medical treatment;
- do a permitted paid engagement, such as a pre-arranged lecture or performance, within 30 days of arrival;
- keep working remotely for your employer in Pakistan, as long as that is not the main purpose of the trip.
You cannot:
- take a job or work for a UK business;
- claim public funds;
- live in the UK through frequent or back-to-back visits;
- marry, form a civil partnership or give notice of marriage (you need a Marriage Visitor visa for that).
The genuine visitor test
Most refusals from Pakistan come down to this test. Under the Immigration Rules (Appendix V, paragraph V 4.2), you must show that you:
- will leave the UK at the end of your visit;
- will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make it your main home;
- are genuinely coming for a permitted purpose;
- will not do anything prohibited, such as work;
- have enough money to cover all reasonable costs of the visit, including your return journey, without working or claiming public funds.
The officer weighs your previous immigration history, how long you stayed on past visits compared with what you said you would do, your financial circumstances, and your family, social and economic ties to Pakistan.
Funds: how much is enough?
There is no fixed minimum for visitors. The question is whether your money is enough for this trip and whether it is genuinely yours. A two-week visit to a relative who is hosting you needs less than a month in London hotels. What matters is that the funds match your income, have been built up over time, and leave you able to meet your commitments at home.
If someone else pays, the rules say they must have a genuine personal or professional relationship with you and be able to support you for the whole visit. Our sister site’s family visitor visa guide covers sponsored visits in detail.
Ties to Pakistan
Strong ties are what make it believable that you will return. The most persuasive are:
- a job with approved leave, or a running business with tax records;
- a spouse and children staying in Pakistan (your FRC shows this);
- property or other assets;
- studies you must return to;
- a travel history of visiting the UK or other countries and returning on time.
How long you can stay
Each visit can last up to 6 months. If you visit often, a long-term visit visa valid for 2, 5 or 10 years can save you reapplying, but each stay is still limited to 6 months, and spending most of the year in the UK can lead to your visa being cancelled. You generally cannot extend beyond 6 months, except in limited cases such as private medical treatment. See our sister site’s long-term visitor visa guide.
Common mistakes we see from Pakistan applications
- Last-minute deposits. A large sum arriving just before applying, with no explanation, raises the question of whose money it is.
- Vague purpose. “Tourism” with no plan, or a stay of 6 months with no reason for that length.
- Inconsistent answers. Dates, sponsor details or employer information that differ between the form, the letters and the interview.
- Hiding a previous refusal. Every refusal, in the UK or elsewhere, must be declared. Hiding one can be treated as deception.
- Overstaying on past visits. Staying longer than you said you would counts against you next time.
- Planning a nikah on a visit visa. Marriage needs a Marriage Visitor visa.
For more on why visitors are refused, see UK visa refusal reasons.
FAQ
Do Pakistani citizens need an ETA to visit the UK?
No. The ETA is for visa-free nationalities. Pakistani citizens need a visa. If you also hold a nationality that qualifies for an ETA, check the rules for that passport separately.
How much money do I need in my bank account?
There is no set amount. You need enough to cover the trip and your return without working, and the money must be genuinely available to you and consistent with your income.
Can I work remotely for my Pakistani employer during my visit?
Yes, since January 2024 visitors can work remotely for an overseas employer, as long as that is not the main purpose of the visit.
Can I extend my visit visa in the UK?
Only in limited cases, such as private medical treatment, or if you were given less than 6 months and want to take the total up to 6 months.
Applying from Pakistan? Send us a few lines about your case and we will tell you which route fits and what to prepare.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Rules and fees change; check GOV.UK before you apply.